Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Around Johns Hopkins University
Hey there! So, you're navigating life at Johns Hopkins University. Whether you're a freshman trying to figure out the best way to get to your 8 a.m. class, a grad student commuting between campuses, or a visitor exploring the beautiful city of Baltimore, one of the first things you'll need to master is the local transportation scene. Honestly, figuring out the buses & shuttles can feel like a whole extra course you didn't sign up for. But don't you worry, I've got you covered.
Think of me as your friendly upperclassman who's already done all the trial & error. I've spent countless hours figuring out the quickest routes, the cheapest options, & all the little hacks to make getting around a breeze. & now, I'm passing all that insider knowledge on to you. We're going to break down everything from the FREE JHU shuttles to the city's public transit & even touch on what to do if you're thinking about bringing a car to campus. It’s a lot to cover, but by the end of this, you'll be navigating Baltimore like a pro.
The JHU Shuttle System: Your Free Ride Around Campus & Beyond
First things first, let's talk about the AMAZING free shuttles that Johns Hopkins provides. Seriously, these are a lifesaver. You'll want to get familiar with them because they can get you to most of the places you need to go without spending a dime.
The Homewood-Peabody-JHMI Shuttle (The "Jimmy")
The Homewood-Peabody-JHMI Shuttle, affectionately known as the "Jimmy," is probably the most popular & widely used shuttle. It's your main artery connecting the Homewood Campus, the Peabody Institute, & the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (JHMI). So, if you have classes on different campuses, this will be your go-to.
The shuttle runs frequently, especially during peak hours on weekdays, with buses arriving as often as every 6 minutes. On weekends, the service is a bit less frequent, with buses coming around every 25 minutes. You can find a detailed schedule on the Johns Hopkins Transportation Services website, but honestly, the best way to keep track of the Jimmy in real-time is by using the TransLoc app. It's a free app that shows you exactly where the shuttles are on the map, so you can time your departure perfectly. No more standing at the bus stop wondering if you just missed it!
The route includes stops at key locations like North Avenue & Penn Station, which is super convenient for catching a train to D.C. or other cities.
The Blue Jay Shuttle: Your On-Demand Ride
Now, let's talk about the Blue Jay Shuttle. This is another fantastic free service, but it works a little differently. Instead of a fixed route, the Blue Jay Shuttle is an on-demand, curb-to-curb service that operates in the evenings. Think of it like a free, shared Uber or Lyft.
The Blue Jay Shuttle serves the areas around the Homewood & East Baltimore campuses. At the Homewood campus, the service runs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. & covers a pretty wide radius around the campus, going all the way down to the Inner Harbor. This is perfect for late-night study sessions, going out to dinner with friends, or getting home safely after a night out.
To use the Blue Jay Shuttle, you'll need to download the TransLoc app. From the app, you can request a ride, & a shuttle will be dispatched to your location. A cool feature is that if a shuttle isn't available within 10-15 minutes, they'll often send you a free Lyft instead!
For those at the East Baltimore campus, the Blue Jay Shuttle runs from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. & from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, providing a safe & convenient way to get to & from your residence within the service area.
The Collegetown Shuttle: Connecting Baltimore's Campuses
The Collegetown Shuttle is a fantastic resource if you have friends at other universities or want to explore other parts of the city. It's a free bus that connects the Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus with Notre Dame of Maryland University & Towson University. It also has a stop at the Towson Town Center, which is great for a shopping trip.
All you need to ride the Collegetown Shuttle is your student ID. It's a great way to get to an internship, visit friends, or just explore a different neighborhood. The shuttle stops right outside of Scott-Bates Commons, making it super convenient for students living on campus.
Other JHU Shuttles
In addition to these main shuttles, Johns Hopkins also operates a number of other routes to connect the Homewood campus with other JHU properties, including:
- Carey Business School
- FastForwardU
- Eastern Campus
- Keswick Campus
- Mount Washington Campus
- R. House
- Stieff Silver
You can find more information about these routes & their schedules on the Johns Hopkins Facilities & Real Estate website.
Baltimore's Public Transit: Exploring the City
While the JHU shuttles are great for getting around campus & nearby neighborhoods, you'll probably want to explore other parts of Baltimore. That's where the city's public transit system, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), comes in.
MTA Buses
The MTA operates a comprehensive network of bus routes throughout the city. Several of these routes have stops conveniently located near the Johns Hopkins campuses.
For the Homewood Campus, the key bus routes to know are the 51, 22, Red, & Silver lines. The 51 & Red lines can take you north to Towson or south to the Inner Harbor. The Silver line runs through downtown into South Baltimore, & the 22 is a good option for getting to the Patterson Park area from Homewood.
For the Medical Campus, there are numerous bus routes that stop nearby, including the 21, 56, CityLink Brown, & CityLink Pink.
To ride the MTA buses, you'll need to pay a fare. A one-way ticket is currently $2, a day pass is $4.60, a 7-day pass is $22, & a 31-day pass is $77. The easiest way to pay is by using the CharmPass app on your phone. You can buy your passes through the app & then just show your phone to the driver when you board.
MTA All Access College Transit Pass
If you plan on using the MTA buses, Light Rail, or Metro Subway frequently, you should definitely look into the MTA All Access College Transit Pass. This pass gives you unlimited rides on these services for a discounted price. For a 31-day pass, it's around $57, which is a pretty good deal if you're a regular commuter.
PhD students may even be eligible for reimbursement for the cost of these passes, so be sure to check with your department.
Charm City Circulator: Another Free Option!
That's right, another FREE bus service! The Charm City Circulator is a fleet of hybrid electric shuttles that run on five different routes throughout the city. This is a fantastic way to explore some of Baltimore's most popular neighborhoods.
The two routes you'll probably use the most are the Purple Route & the Green Route.
The Purple Route runs from Federal Hill up to 33rd Street, with stops at Penn Station & near the Homewood Campus. This is a great way to get downtown for free to check out the Inner Harbor, restaurants, & events.
The Green Route runs from City Hall to Fells Point & the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus. So, if you're at the medical campus & want to explore the charming waterfront neighborhood of Fells Point, this is the perfect option.
The Circulator buses run every 10-20 minutes, depending on the route, & you can track them in real-time using the Transit app.
Light Rail & Metro Subway
Baltimore also has a Light Rail & a Metro Subway system. While they may not be as directly accessible from the JHU campuses as the buses, they can be useful for getting to other parts of the city & beyond.
The Metro Subway has a stop at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, making it a convenient option for those on the medical campus. The subway runs from Owings Mills in the northwest to the hospital in the east.
The Light Rail runs from Hunt Valley in the north to BWI Airport & Glen Burnie in the south. To get to the Light Rail from the Homewood campus, you can take a bus or shuttle to Penn Station, which is on the Light Rail line.
Other Ways to Get Around
In addition to the shuttles & public transit, there are a few other options for getting around Baltimore.
Biking & Scooters
Baltimore has a growing number of bike lanes & shared-use paths, making it a pretty bike-friendly city. If you have your own bike, it can be a great way to get around, especially for shorter trips.
You'll also see a lot of Spin & Lime scooters & e-bikes around the city. You can rent these through their respective apps. They're a fun & convenient way to get around, but be sure to ride safely & park them responsibly.
Ride-Sharing & Taxis
Of course, there's always Uber & Lyft. These can be a good option for getting to places that are not easily accessible by public transit or when you're in a hurry. However, the costs can add up quickly, so they're probably not the most budget-friendly option for daily commuting.
Taxis are also available throughout the city, & you can usually find them at the main entrance of the hospital on the medical campus.
What About Bringing a Car to Campus?
This is a big question for many students. While it's definitely possible to get around Baltimore without a car, having one can offer some extra freedom & flexibility. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges, namely parking.
Parking at Johns Hopkins, like at any major university in a city, can be a bit of a headache. On-campus parking is limited & can be expensive. There are a few garages & lots for students, but they often have waitlists. Visitor parking is also available, but the hourly rates can add up.
This is where a service like Prked.com can be a real game-changer. Here’s the thing, many people have empty driveways, garages, or parking spots that they're not using. Prked is a pretty cool platform that connects people who need parking with homeowners who have extra space. So, instead of fighting for a spot on campus or paying high garage fees, you can rent a private parking spot from a local resident. It's often more affordable & convenient, & you don't have to worry about the stress of finding a spot every day.
& honestly, the same goes for storage. If you're living in a dorm or a small apartment, you might not have a lot of space for your extra stuff. Instead of renting a traditional storage unit, you can use Prked to find a safe & affordable place to store your belongings in someone's empty garage, attic, or basement. It's a much more flexible & convenient solution.
A Note on Accessibility
For students, faculty, & visitors with disabilities, Johns Hopkins Transportation Services provides accessible transportation options. They have a wheelchair-accessible van that can be scheduled for rides within the Homewood campus. The Blue Jay Shuttle also has an accessible van available upon request.
The MTA buses are all equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps, & have designated priority seating for seniors & people with disabilities. The Charm City Circulator buses are also accessible.
My Final Take
Phew, that was a lot of information! But I hope this detailed breakdown helps you feel more confident about getting around Johns Hopkins & Baltimore. My best advice is to download the TransLoc, Transit, & CharmPass apps to your phone right away. They'll be your best friends when it comes to navigating the city.
Don't be afraid to try out the different options & see what works best for you. And if you have any questions, the JHU Transportation Services office is always there to help.
Hope this was helpful, & happy travels! Let me know what you think.
